The roads were covered. The winds were blowing. And temperatures were falling. Wednesday brought the first major snow fall of the season, and drivers we spoke with say they quickly felt the impact of this storm.
"I did have a lot of slippage, but I was able to bring it back in control," said Brian Rcohick of Millcreek. "There's a lot of spots out there where you can't see the road anymore, its all snow."
Many encountered slippage and spinning of tires while driving on Wednesday. They told us even though they couldn't even see the road at times, they were excited for that first snow fall of this winter season.
"I grew up in this area, so I'm used to it," said Mark McCullor who was visiting from northern Virginia. "I don't experience it anymore but its fun if you can drive safe on it and stuff."
There is one group, though, that welcomes winter storms like this one each year. Plow companies tell us they've just been waiting for the snow, and they very much enjoyed Wednesday night's storm.
Jim Owns of Gerlach's Snow Removal tells us they've missed out on 12 to 15 inches of snow this year. But with this storm on Wednesday, he said his crews weren't able to ease into the winter season.
"Usually just get to go out and salt, you don't have to shovel," said Owens. "We're shoveling right off the bat. You usually get broken in by salting, and then go into shoveling. But its straight shoveling today."
As much as drivers don't welcome it, they say, in the end, it is the season for snow in Erie.
"You dread the day it comes every year, but once we all get accustomed to it again, its just another year," said Rcohick.
Speed limits do remain reduced on roads like I-79, I-90 and I-86 to 45 MPH. Crews are urging drivers to remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
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